Spring Break
Spurs should get title No. 5
David Zugnoni
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: Sports
Sorry to disappoint fans of fast-paced, run-and-gun-style basketball, but the San Antonio Spurs will win the NBA championship - again.
One thing the Spurs haven't done is win back-to-back championships, but last year's finals victory over an inexperienced Cleveland Cavaliers was not exactly the triumph that causes a team to lack the motivation needed to win it the following season.
It's up to the Spurs this season to prove themselves as a team that can take the crown against stronger competition, and they're certainly getting the chance - they find themselves in a tough series with the New Orleans Hornets, a Western Conference Finals likely to pit them against the Los Angeles Lakers and an NBA Finals likely to stage a showcase of the best in the West versus the revamped Boston Celtics. The challenge may seem daunting, but Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and the rest of the deep defending champions have been through this before.
In the 2005 Finals, the Spurs prevailed in a grueling seven-game series against a Pistons squad that was playing at its peak. Two years prior, the Spurs outmatched the dominant Lakers, who had both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal at the time.
Beating Kobe and Shaq at once is a lot tougher than beating them in separate series, and the Spurs will have sent the dynamic duo home again by the end of the conference finals.
Once the Spurs get by the Lakers, there's no way Boston's three-headed monster with no body to speak of will keep them from their goal.
Historic rivalries can wait until next year.
One thing the Spurs haven't done is win back-to-back championships, but last year's finals victory over an inexperienced Cleveland Cavaliers was not exactly the triumph that causes a team to lack the motivation needed to win it the following season.
It's up to the Spurs this season to prove themselves as a team that can take the crown against stronger competition, and they're certainly getting the chance - they find themselves in a tough series with the New Orleans Hornets, a Western Conference Finals likely to pit them against the Los Angeles Lakers and an NBA Finals likely to stage a showcase of the best in the West versus the revamped Boston Celtics. The challenge may seem daunting, but Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and the rest of the deep defending champions have been through this before.
In the 2005 Finals, the Spurs prevailed in a grueling seven-game series against a Pistons squad that was playing at its peak. Two years prior, the Spurs outmatched the dominant Lakers, who had both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal at the time.
Beating Kobe and Shaq at once is a lot tougher than beating them in separate series, and the Spurs will have sent the dynamic duo home again by the end of the conference finals.
Once the Spurs get by the Lakers, there's no way Boston's three-headed monster with no body to speak of will keep them from their goal.
Historic rivalries can wait until next year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
johnnny be bad
posted 5/13/08 @ 11:01 PM PST
well let me be the first to say its good that you have so much confidence in your team but sorry to dissapoint you but the only thing the spurs are going to win is a ticket back home . (Continued…)
jace
posted 5/14/08 @ 1:28 PM PST
Hornets lead series 3-2
:P
jstanley01
posted 5/20/08 @ 7:41 AM PST
SPURS WIN GAME SEVEN OVER HORNETS
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